The Palestine Chronology

Along Gaza’s border fence, unidentified Palestinians open fire on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) patrols near Jabaliya refugee camp causing no injuries. Israeli tanks then shell several Hamas posts near the border fence, causing damage. Later, Palestinians fire machine guns across the border into Israel, this time causing minor damage to an Israeli home near Sderot. The IDF then bombs Hamas sites in northern Gaza, including an alleged weapons production facility, causing an unclear amount of damage. Separately, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathering along the border fence to protest and throw stones near al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, and Khan Yunis; 4 Palestinians are injured. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting the 5/14 opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem at the Beit El checkpoint; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 5 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem and Nablus, and patrol in Hebron and near Nablus. Israeli settlers cut down approximately 400 grapevines in a Palestinian vineyard near Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during a raid in Silwan. (WAFA 5/16; HA, JP, TOI, YA 5/17; PCHR 5/17; PCHR 5/24)

Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu attend the inauguration of the new Guatemalan embassy in Jerusalem. “My next trip through Latin America goes through Guatemala," Netanyahu says. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 5/16)

The Egyptian authorities keep the Rafah border crossing open for the fourth consecutive day, despite their initial plans to keep it closed today. (AP 5/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces again close the main entrance to Luban al-Sharqiyya village near Nablus, following recent clashes in the village (they temporarily closed it on 12/22 after the clashes first broke out). IDF troops arrest 24 Palestinians during late-night raids near Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya; and patrol in and around Hebron. (WAFA 12/24; PCHR 12/28)

A Palestinian youth succumbs to injuries sustained during clashes with the IDF along Gaza’s border on 12/8. (TOI, WAFA 12/24; PCHR 12/28)

The Israeli press reports that PA pres. Abbas told his deputies that the U.S. is a “lost cause” and ordered them to sever all contacts with U.S. officials, expanding the high-level diplomatic break he ordered in the wake of Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem. (TOI 12/24)

Guatemalan pres. Jimmy Morales announces that his government intends to follow the U.S. lead and move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Guatemala was among the small group of countries that opposed the UNGA resolution on 12/21. (AP, CNN, TOI 12/24; WP 12/28)